France - lithuania

Discover why France is so much more than just Paris, with its small towns and villages, and regions each offering a different look and feel. Immerse yourself in world-famous culture, food, architecture, philosophy, and art.
Make sure to explore the most beautiful parts of France—from the Atlantic coast to the Alps, and from the English Channel to the Mediterranean Sea.

Your French friends will likely spend their free time in parks or cafés and spend holidays attending parties with friends. Football and basketball are the favorite sports among French youth.

A photo posted by AFS France (@afs_france) on Apr 15, 2016 at 5:41am PDT

Host family and community

You will most likely live in one of France’s rural regions. Your host family will probably greet you with a “bisou” (a little kiss on the cheek), as a sign of appreciation and warmth.
Expect to be treated as a member of the family, which also means helping out with daily tasks and routines.

School

You will most likely be enrolled in a public collège (if you are under 15) or lycée (if you are between 15 and 18 years old). Some AFS students also attend private schools.
The school day usually starts at 8:00 in the morning and ends around 5 or 6 in the evening, while Wednesdays are typically half-days.
It’s possible that you will also have some classes on Saturday mornings. On average, students have two weeks of vacation for every six weeks of school.
Since there is a strong emphasis on academics, extracurricular activities are often offered directly at school. You will also have the opportunity to join sports and theater clubs.

Language

French is the official national language in France.
Basic knowledge of French is recommended for short programs (3 months or less).
If you are going on a semester or year-long program, you should improve your French before the program starts.
You will also be given the opportunity to strengthen your French through online language courses a few weeks before the program begins.

Ēdiens

Food is very important to the French. If they are not eating, they are definitely talking about food that is delicious and carefully prepared.
The French are gourmets and enjoy a wide variety of cheeses, as well as local specialties like foie gras (duck or goose liver pâté), escargots de Bourgogne (snails), crêpes, and cassoulet.
French pastries and cheeses are famous all over the world.